Vault



June 20, 1939. Sl F LAUCKS ET AL 296044 VAULT Filed May 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l SYN I6 I8 zo a? gwen/toms s. F. LAUGKS AND QF. sloBERG June 20, 1939 Ww, M 22 A w WAY/; MW mm Mm a n@ @gf/? W, mm Mmmm@ m1 L. M 4 1 w n @mmm bm mm w l. iNm. wm/%/%f^^^/W\ .m m L.

mw im www Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQE York, Pa., assignors Company, York, Pa.,

Wavre to York Safe and Lock a corporation of Dela- Application May 5, 1937, Serial No. 140,879

7 Claims.

This invention relates tovaults and more particularly to the construction of the linings of vaults.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved lining for vaults in which the several parts comprising the lining are united together in such a manner as to be water-tight.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a corner of a vault having a lining constructed in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of aportion of the intermediate lining structure shown in Fig. l illustrating the manner of connecting two of the lining plates together;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the corner portion of the lining shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of another form of vault lining;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of the corner of the type of lining shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a means for sealing the joints at the screws employed for securing the lining plates to battens; and

Fig. 7 is a detail section of one of the washers shown in Fig. 6 before the same has been used.

Vaults, especially those of the larger sizes, are usually constructed with walls, floors and ceilings of monolithic masonry, such as reinforced concrete of suitable thickness, as indicated at II, Fig. 1.

In order to enhance the appearance of the interior of the vaults, the interiors thereof are usually lined with plate steel sheets, the linings being disposed in spaced relation to the concrete structures.

One form of lining which has gone into extensive use consists of a plurality of sheets I2 of plate steel or other suitable metal of the desired gauge or thickness. The sheets of metal are arranged edge to edge so that their exposed surfaces on the interior of the vault will be flush and smooth.

In order to secure the plates I2 together, strips of metal in the form of battens I3 are disposed on the rear or back surfaces of the plates, as

(Cl. 10B-79) shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The battens I3 lap the adjacent edge portions of the plates I2.

For the purpose of securing the battens I3 to the plates I2 so that a rigid structure is provided, at suitable intervals the battens are formed 5 with threaded openings I4 and the plates are formed with openings I5 which aline with the openings I4 in the battens.

As shown in Fig. 2, each opening I5 is formed with a tapered portion to receive the correspond- 1o ingly formed head of a screw I5, so that when the screw is inserted tightly in the alined openings of the plate and batten, its head will be countersunk in the plate I2.

Before the screws I6 are inserted in the holes 15 in the lining members, they are preferably coated. with some suitable filler material, such as lead paste, so that the joints between the screws and the threaded openings in the metal plates will be filled and thus made water-tight.

In order to provide means for sealing the joint between each of the plates I2, according to the present invention, a groove I'! is formed length- Wise in each edge of the plates I2.

Preferably the side wall I8 of each groove I7 25 extends inwardly from the surface of the plate I2 facing the interior of the vault a distance slightly more than one-half the thickness of said plate, although it will be understood that the grooves I'I may be of any desired depth and width. 30 The rear wall I9 of each groove I? is disposed substantially parallel to the outer surface of the plate, while the side wall I is disposed at an angle slightly less than with respect to the surface of said plate facing the interior of the 35 vault. The construction of the grooves I'I is such that when two plates are butted together, edge to edge, an elongated slot or groove of dovetail form in cross section will be disposed on the surface of the lining facing the interior of the vault, said slot being narrower in width at the outer surface of the plates I2 than at the interior of said plates.

The dove-tail slots thus formed by the abutted grooves I'I are adapted to be filled with a suitable non-corrosive and ductile material 28. One material suitable for filling the slots is lead in the form of strips. These lead sealing strips are adapted to be forced under pressure tightly into the grooves by any suitable means. Due to the physical property of lead, the strips can be readily deformed into intimate contact with the contiguous walls of the grooves Il and thus hermetically seal the joints between the plates I2, as shown in Fig. 2.

The portions of the lining at the corners of the vault comprise two nested or superposed angles 2| and 22, the outer angle having sides of less width than the angle 2l, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, so that a lapped joint will be formed when the angles are connected to the lining plates.

The joint between each side edge of the angle 22 and the adjacent edge of the lining plate I2 is adapted to be sealed and the adjoining portions of the angle 22 and plate I2 are adapted to be securely fastened to the side of the inner angle 2I which laps or overlies the adjacent edges of plate I2 and angle 22, in a manner similar to that heretofore described for connecting together and sealing two adjacent plates of the lining.

As shown in Fig. 3, the edge of plate I2 adjacent the angle 22 is formed with a groove 23, and the adjacent edge of the angle 22 is formed with a groove 2d. The grooves 23 and 2d form a dove-tail slot similar in form to the dove-tail slot heretofore described and this slot is adapted to be lled with lead 25 in the manner heretofore described, so that a water-tight seal is provided adjacent the corner of the vault lining.

At suitable distances on opposite sides of the lead seal 25, each side of the inner angle 2| is formed with threaded openings 26 and 21. Openings 28 are also formed in each side oi angle 22 in alinement with the openings 21', and screws 29, similar to the screws I6 heretofore described, are adapted to be mounted in said openings so as to retain the two angles 2l and 22 together.

Plate I2 at a point adjacent the groove 23 is formed with openings 36 which register with the openings 25 in the angle 2l. Screws 3| similar to the screws I6 are adapted to be mounted in openings 26 and 3B so as to fasten the adjacent edge portion of plate I2 to the angle 2i.

By employing the two angles 2l and 22 at the corner of the vault lining, and by fastening and sealing the adjacent edges of the lining plates i2 thereto in the manner described, the lead seals 25 will be disposed at a distance from the corner of the lining in an accessible and convenient location, so that a mechanic can easily aflix the screws 29 and 3l to the parts of the lining,r and then mount the seals in the respective dove-tail slots. Furthermore, since two superposed or nested angles are utilized at the corners of the lining there will be no abutting edges of the lining material in said corners to fasten together and seal. In this way a stronger and more water-tight structure is formed than would be the case were the plates extended into the apexes of the corners of the lining of the vault.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the vault lining is formed from single plates i2. On the other hand, in some instances it is desirable to construct a comparatively heavy or thick lining for vaults of extraordinary large dimensions, and insteadV of forming these linings of plates of single thickness, it is desirable to utilize a laminated lining composed of a plurality of plat-es or layers of material, such as is shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Fig. 4 the laminated lining may comprise an outer wall 36 of plate steel similar to the plate steel sheets I2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Disposed against the plates 36 is a second series of plates 31, the joints therebetween being siaggered with respect to the joints of the plates The plates 31 are secured to the plates 36 by' screws 38 and the joint between the abutting edges of the plates 31 is formed with a dove-tail slot 39 which is lled with a lead seal 40, the construction being similar to that heretofore described and shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, it being understood that both plates 36 and 31 are coextensive with the wall of the lining.

Mounted on the inside of plate 31 is a comparatively' thick lining portion 4I. The plates 3B and 31 of the lining may be constructed from any suitable material. VOn the other hand, in order to make the lining more impenetrable, the portion ii of the lining may be constructed from some suitable torch resisting metal or hard chemical compound capable of withstanding at- Vtacksthereupon from the exterior of the vault by burglars or other persons.

The intermediate lining portion 4I is covered by inner plate steel sheets 42, the adjoining edges of which are formed with dove-tail slots 43 filled with lead sealing strips 44 similar to the lead seals heretofore described.

The lining portions @I and I2v are secured to the portion 31 of the lining by means of screws i5 mounted in alined openings formed in the several portions of the lining, as shown in Fig. 4.

With the walls of a laminated form of lining constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 4, the construction ci a corner of such type of lining comprises an inner angle member 5I, the outer edges of the sides of which abut the adjacent edges of the plates 36.

Nested in the angle 5i is an angle 52, the outer edges of the sides of which abut the adjacent edges of the plates 31.

The plates 3'! and the angle 52 are fastened to the angle 5I by a plurality of screws 53, similar in form to the screws 29 and 3i heretofore referred to.

The adjoining edges of the angles 52 and plates 31 are formed with dove-tail slots 54, in which is mbedded lead packing 55 to form a water-tight seal similar to the lead seals 25.

The intermediate lining member 4I extends into the apex of the angle 52, as shown in Fig. 5, and covering said portion li! of the lining structure is an angle 55, the edges of the sides of which abut the adjacent edges of the inner lining plates v The adjacent edges of the angle 55 and the plates 42 are formed with a dove-tail slot 51 which is filled with lead packing 58 to. form a watertight seal on the interior of the laminated lining structure.

rihe corner Yportions oi the inner lining structure are secured together by means of screws 59 which are inserted in alined threaded openings in the portions of said lining structure and terminate in the plates 31.

In some instances it may be desirable to apply lead washers to the screws employed for fastening the several parts of lining together, so as to provide a greater amount of sealing means around' the screws than is obtainable by merely coating the screws with paste or other composition ller material.

As shown in Fig. 6. the battons I3, around the portions of the openings I4 therein adjacent to the abutting surfaces of the lining plates I2, may be formed with countersunk or recessed portions 62 of suitable depth.

A washer 63 formed from lead or other ductile material and constructed thicker than the depth of the recess 62 is mounted in each recess 62 before the plates l2 are positioned against the battens i3. When the screws l are being inserted in the alined threaded openings in the plates and battens, the screws will draw the surfaces of the battens into intimate contact with the adjacent surfaces of the plates I2, and in consequence thereof the washers 63 will be compressed, thereby forcing the lead into the joints between the threads of the screws and the threads of the openings in the lining members, and thus hermetically sealing such joints.

We do not desire to limit ourselves to the specic details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of our inven tion as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. A lining for vaults and the like, comprising plates disposed with their adjacent edges in con tact with each other, a batten lapping the edges of said plates and disposed on the outer side of the plates, means for securing the battens to the plates, grooves formed on the inside surfaces of the plates along the adjacent edges thereof, said grooves being coextensive the length of the plates, and iead mounted in said grooves for sealing the joints between the plates.

2. A lining for Vaults and the like, comprising side plates disposed with their adjacent edges in contact with each other, a batten lapping the edges oi" said side plates and disposed on the outer side or the plates, means for securing the battens to the plates, an angle plate at each corner of the lining having its opposite edges in Contact with the edges of the adjacent plates, a second angle plate at each corner of the lining on the outer side of the iii'st angle plate and having wider sides than the sides of the first angle plate whereby the sides of the second angle plate lap the joint between the first angle plate and said side plates, and means for securing the two angles together and to the adjacent portion of the side plates.

3. A lining for vaults and the like, comprising side plates disposed with their adjacent edges in contact with each other, a batten lapping the edges of said side plates and disposed on the outer side of the plates, means for securing the battens to the plates, an angle plate at each corner of the lining having its opposite edges in contact with the edges of the adjacent plates, a second angle plate at each corner of the lining on the outer side of the rst angle plate and having Wider sides than the sides of the first angle plate whereby the sides of the second angle plate lap the joint between the first angle plate and said side plates, grooves formed on the inside surfaces of the plates along the edges thereof, and a seal of ductile material mounted in said grooves.

4. A lining for vaults and the like, comprising side plates disposed with their adjacent edges in contact with each other, a batten lapping the edges of said side plates and disposed on the outer side of the plates, means for securing the battens to the plates, an angle plate at each corner of the lining having its opposite edges in contact with the edges of the adjacent plates, a second angle plate at each corner of the lining on the outer side of the rst angle plate and having wider sides than the sides of the first angle plate whereby the sides of the second angle plate lap the joint between the iirst angle plate and said side plates, means for securing the two angles together and to the adjacent portion of the side plates, grooves formed on the inside surfaces of the plates along the edges thereof, and a seal of ductile material mounted in said grooves.

5. A lining for vaults and the like, comprising plates disposed with their adjacent edges in contact with each other, a batten lapping the edges oi said plates and disposed on the outer side of the plates, alined threaded openings formed in the plates and in the batten, a recess formed around each batten opening in the surface of the batten abutting the plates, a lead washer having a thickness greater than the depth of said recess mounted in said recess, and a screw inserted through said alined openings and adapted to receive around its threads surplus lead from the washer when the plates are drawn tightly against the batten.

6. A lining for vaults and the like, comprising plates disposed with their adjacent edges in oontact with each other, a batten lapping the edges of said plates and disposed on the outer side of the plates whereby said batten is invisible from the interior of the vault, means for securing the battens to the plates and comprising fastening elements insertable through alined openings of the plates and the battens from the interior oi the Vault, a substantially L-shaped notch formed on the inside surface of each plate along the side edge of said plate and coextensive the length thereof whereby a groove is formed on the inside of the lining along the abutting edges of the plates, and a malleable material mounted in said grooves for sealing the joints along the abutting edges of the plates, said sealed joints being spaced from the fastening elements employed for securing the plates together.

7. A lining for vaults and the like comprising a series of plates constituting an outer wall of the vault, said plates having abutting side edges, a second series of plates disposed against the outer plates, the joints between the second series of plates being staggered with respect to the joints of the outer plates, means for securing the second series of plates to the outer series of plates, dove-tail slots formed on the inside surfaces of the second series of plates along the adjacent edges thereof, a lead seal inserted in said slots for sealing the joints between the plates, a third series of plates disposed inside of the second series of plates in spaced relation to the second series of plates, a lining of torch resisting metal or hard chemical compound capable of withstanding attacks thereupon from the eX- terior oi the vault disposed in the space between said second and third series of plates, dove-tail slots formed on the inside surfaces oi the third series of plates along the adjacent edges thereof, a lead seal inserted in said slots for sealing the joints between the plates, and fastening means extending through the third series of plates, the lining and the second series of plates for securing the inner lining elements to the outer wall of the Vault.

SAMUEL FORRY LAUCKS. CHARLES F. SIOBERG.

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